Does anyone have any advice about which LLM program is better for a commercial focused course? General advice about the universities

Thanks!

Berkeley is better overall.

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings

this is the latest ranking

This is just one but many of the ranking tables. In addition, it fluctuates yearly and there were times when Berkeley was higher than Penn. Also please note that although USnews is the most recognized ranking, it has been heavily criticised.

http://law-school.findthebest.com/
http://schools.lawschoolnumbers.com/rankings/gourman-report

Furthermore, you also need to note the overall international ranking for the law schools if you have intention to venture out of the US or if you are not from the US.

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2012/law-and-legal-studies

Last but not least, California is one of the most beautiful places in the US, with wonderful and mild weather. Stunning beaches and good food.

Well you are right .. But U penn has an advantage in business and commercial law with Wharton certificate .. Berkeley is number 1 in IP law .. So he asked for specific speciality ranking

<blockquote>Well you are right .. But U penn has an advantage in business and commercial law with Wharton certificate .. Berkeley is number 1 in IP law .. So he asked for specific speciality ranking</blockquote>

I agree then that U Penn is better in business law although Berkeley also has business certificate. I think if he purely wants the best business law school then Penn is the one. However, if he is a foreigner, which I believe he is as most LLM students are, then he should consider the world reputation.

I am providing a more detailed analysis. One important fact is Berkeley has consistently been ranked within top 5 of the most reputable universities in the world by Times. Most employers outside of the US look at Times more than US news.

I am a foreigner, but do want a business focus in the LLM which is why I am leaning towards UPenn, Berkeley does seem to have the better international reputation though, this makes it difficult to decide.

Although it may be true that berkeley is more "famous", I wouldnt say better reputation - upenn is amazing and, after all, it is an Ivy. And everybody knows ivyleague. Besides, Wharton is the top business school in the world and anyone with a business focus knows that.

<blockquote>Although it may be true that berkeley is more "famous", I wouldnt say better reputation - upenn is amazing and, after all, it is an Ivy. And everybody knows ivyleague. Besides, Wharton is the top business school in the world and anyone with a business focus knows that.</blockquote>

I agree that Ivy League is a big name but most people outside the US can only name Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Columbia, and rightly so (without referring to the wikipedia or being educated in the US or in a specific industry that relates to a particular Ivy League's university). This is because in recent years, Ivy League universities' dominance has been challenged by Stanford, Berkeley and MIT on the international stage. I don't even need to go into the declining international reputation of Brown, Cornell and Dartmouth (the weaker ones within the Ivy League). I know of people who graduated from those three universities resorting to putting the name "Ivy League" in bracket beside their universities because their employers (from big non American MNC) do not know of them. Maybe their employers are ignorant but if you want a job from them then it doesn't matter how ignorant they are. I need to clarify that I am not saying Ivy League's universites are not good especially Harvard and Yale are still the top in the world and in the US. My point is not everyone outside the US knows every single Ivy League's university (they do know the name Ivy League as a whole).

You have rightly pointed out that anyone with business focus will know U Penn but lawyers are not really businessmen, bankers, accountants and so on and so forth. The applicant really needs to gauge whether the employers in his country will truly appreciate U Penn's reputation. I clarify again that I am not saying U Penn is not as good as Berkeley. It can even be better than Berkeley as a whole or as a business focus law school. I am focusing on international reputation and as far as I am concerned, 90% or more of the students are non-Americans.

Last but not least, Times is the most reputable table for (despite having its own criticisms) international ranking. It has two separate tables. One for academic ranking and another for reputation. I am not sure if Times has mistaken reputation for famous. I hope it doesn't.

For me the most important thing is the general ranking then the specialized ranking, and in both UPenn better!

<blockquote>For me the most important thing is the general ranking then the specialized ranking, and in both UPenn better!</blockquote>

where did you find a specialized ranking for business & corporate?

<blockquote><blockquote>For me the most important thing is the general ranking then the specialized ranking, and in both UPenn better!</blockquote>

where did you find a specialized ranking for business & corporate?</blockquote>

http://law-school.findthebest.com/d/c/Business-Law